Filamentary roving package



Jan. 23, 1968 J. P. KLINK ETAL FILAMENTARY ROVING PACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 14, 1965 INVENTORS l5/MME P /M//f JAMAS C. ,5E/ UE' JAMES Mle-Ans ,47' TOP/Vans Jan. 23, 1968 J, P. KLlN'K ETAL 43,365,145A

FILAMENTARY ROVING PACKAGE Filed May 14, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Jaaa/wf P A2M/Af J4/w55 GEEL UE -JAMEs Hffms Jan. 23, 196s FILAMENTARY ROVING PACKAGE Filed May 14, 1965 J. P. KL-:NK ETAL 3,365,145

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS JEROME P KLM/K `JAMES C. EELUE AMES H. 15E/:fw

` ,47- raP/VE V5 United States Patent C 3,365,145 FILAMENTARY ROVING PACKAGE Jerome P. Klink, James C. Belue, and James H. Sears, Anderson, S.C., assignors to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 455,754 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-166) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLSURE This invention embraces -a novel package of roving, the roving comprising a strand or strands of bers or lilaments of glass, the roving at the end regions of the package being compacted providing a package of cylindrical shape and having its ends in parallel planes.

This invention relates to filamentary roving and more especially to a novel package of roving formed of attenuated fibers or filaments of glass or other heat-softenable material wherein the ends of the package are in parallel planes and the end regions of the package self-supporting.

The invention has for an object the provision of a package of filamentary material in the form of a roving wound into a package of substantial size wherein the ends of the package are in substantially parallel planes and the peripheral region of the package substantially cylindrical.

Another object of the invention resides in a package of roving of lamentary material having square ends with o the roving at the end regions of the package in more cornpact relation than the roving intermediate the end regions of the package.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a package of roving of filamentary material wherein the filaments comprising the roving may be oriented into a single strand roving, or wherein the roving may comprise multiple strands and the roving compacted at the end regions of the package providing -a cylindrically shaped package of a character eliminating liability of sloughing of the roving.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a Wound package of iilamentaryroving wherein the orientation of the roving in successive layers is the same throughout the package and wherein the convolutions of the rovina in each layer are in side-by-side relation.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a winding apparatus and strand guide means for producing a package of single strand roving;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating winding apparatus and filament guide means for producing a package of multiple strand roving;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 illustrating the collection of single strand roving into a package;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view or" a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 illustratimy the collection of multiple strand roving into a package;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an end portion of a package of multi-strand roving illustrating compaction of the strands of the roving in the end regions of the package;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of an end portion of a package of single strand roving, and

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FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a completed package of roving.

While the package illustrated comprises a roving of filaments of glass, it is to be understood that the roving may be formed of filaments of other lament-forming materials.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1 of the drawings there is illustrated an arrangement for forming and packaging single strand roving and includes a stream feeder 10 containing a supply of heat-softened glass or other fiberforining material. The floor or tip section 14 of the feeder 10 is fashioned with a large number of depending projections or tips 16 having orifices therein for iiowing streams 1S of the glass or other material from the feeder. The streams are attenuated into individual continuous lilaments 20.

The arrangement illustrated is adapted to facilitate the formation of several hundred filaments comprising the roving 22. Nozzles 21 may be provided for directing sprays of water onto the newly formed filaments.

It is sometimes desirable to apply lubricants or coating materials to the filaments, and for this purpose an applicator 26, supported by a receptacle 28 containing coating material, is arranged to transfer coating material to the filaments through wiping action of the filaments engaging a film of the material on the applicator.

The roving 22 formed of the continuous filaments 20 is directed to a winding machine or apparatus 32 and is wound onto a collector tube or sleeve 34, telescoped onto a rotatable collet 36, the winding of the roving into a package attenuating the glass streams to filaments. The winding collet 36 is rotated by an electric-ally energizable motor 3e contained within a housing 40 of the winding machine.

An arrangement for guiding and traversing the roving as it is wound into a package includes a traverse guide for the roving which is maintained at all times close to the periphery of the package in order to form a cylindrically-shaped square end package. In forming the package 35, the roving is compacted at the package ends, viz. at the region of reversal of the traverse means to facilitate the formation of a square end package and eliminate sloughing of the roving at the package ends.

` The traverse means for the roving is mounted on an arm 69, shown in FIGURE l, which is of hollow configuration to accommodate a traverse drive means. The arm is provided with a hollow horizontal section 62 in which is mounted a rotatable traverse actuating member 64.

The member 64 is fashioned with a multiple return groove or cam 66 for reciprocating a traverse member or block 68 for slidable reciprocable movement along ways 72 provided on the member 62 and which, are parallel with the axis of the collet 36.

The traverse `63 is equipped with a cam follower 74 fitting in the groove 66, the follower being pivoted on the traverse member 63 to accommodate pivotal movement of the follower at the regions of reversal of the multiple return groove 66 at the ends of the traverse actuating member 64. The traverse block 68l is equipped with a guide 78 for the roving, the guide 76 having a groove or recess 79 to receive the roving 22.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the rotatable traverse actuator 64 journaled in the horizontal portion 62 of the arm 60 is driven by a belt and sprocket means 80 from ya shaft 82 through suitable transmission gearing 84 from an electrically energizable motor 86, or from the collet 36. The traverse actuator 64 is rotated by the motor 86 independently of the relative position of the arm 60'.

The method of winding the package involves maintaining the guide 76 close to the package and includes an arrangement responsive to the increase in size of the package for moving the traverse support arm 69 through successive increments to accommodate the enlarging package while maintaining the guide 76 close to or in engagement with the periphery of the package throughout the formation thereof.

With reference to FIGURE 3, the traverse block 68 is provided with openings slidably receiving a stem 90 provided on the traverse guide 76. A-n expansive coil spring 92 surrounds the stem and is anchored to the stern, the spring normally urging the traverse guide 76 toward the package being formed on the collet 36. The stern 90 is adapted to engage the actuator of a microswitch 94 which is in circuit with a motor 96 through a time delay relay (not shown). The motor 96 is of the low speed synchronous type and is connected through speed reducing mechanism 98 with the arm 60 to swing the arm 69 in a direction away from the enlarging package, the motor operating for short periods of time as determined by the time delay relay.

As the enlarging package engages the traverse guide 76, the spring 92 is compressed, closing the microswitch 94 to energize the circuit of motor 96. The motor 96 is timed by the time delay relay to operate for a length of time only sufficient to move the traverse arm 60 and the traverse guide '776l a short distance away from the package to relieve the compression of spring 92 and preferably move the traverse guide 76 just out of contact with the package 35.

Through this arrangement the traverse guide 76 is always maintained in engagement with or just out of engagement with the periphery of the package whereby the guide groove 78 for the roving properly guides the roving onto the package to form a wound package wherein the roving is wound in successive layers of equal length and wherein the convolutions of the roving in each layer are in side-by-side relation.

The traverse guide '76 thus performs the function ot a sensor responsive to the enlarging package to control the position of the guide means for the roving. The guide 76 performs another important function. Under the compression force of the spring 92, the traverse guide 76 exerts pressure radially on the roving in the package at the ends of the package to compact the roving at the end regions.

In the absence of the pressure of the traverse guide 76 exerted on the package, the end regions of the package would normally be wound with a taper as indicated in broken lines at i) in FIGURE 3. By exerting radial pressure on the roving at the ends of the package, the roving is compacted and the taper formation prevented whereby a cylindrical package 3S having square ends, viz. with ends in parallel planes, is produced. This type of end formation for the package eliminates sloughing of the roving.

As the package 3S increases in diameter, the traverse guide 76 is moved radially of the package to compress the spring 92 and energize the circuit through motor 96 by closing the microswitch. The time delay relay may be timed so that the traverse guide 76 is moved out of engagement with the periphery of the package not more than about 1/2 of an inch, and it is preferable that each incremental movement of the arm 66 and traverse 76 away from the enlarging package be just sufficient to relieve the compression on the spring 92 and maintain the traverse guide 76 in slight contact with the periphery of the package.

The motor 38, driving the collect 36 upon which the packages are formed, is progressively reduced in speed by a conventional programming means (not shown) whereby the lamcnts of the roving are attenuated at a substantially constant linear speed so that the filaments are of uniform size. The drive motor 86 for the traverse actuator 64 is likewise controlled by the programmer whereby the speed of the traverse block 68 carrying the guide 76 is modulated or progressively reduced to maintain constant the deposition pattern ofthe roving throughout the package.

FIGURES 2 and 4 illustrate an apparatus similar to the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 for producing a package of multi-strand roving, viz. a roving comprising a plurality of groups or strands of filaments. With reference initially to FIGURE 2, several hundred streams of glass are flowed from a feeder of the character shown in FIGURE l. The iilaments attenuated from the streams of glass are separated or segregated into groups of lilaments or strands 110 by teeth or projections 112 of comb guide 114, the strands 110 forming the roving 116.

While the roving illustrated comprises seven strands without twist in the strands, it is to be understood that the roving may be fashioned of a greater or lesser number of strands.

The winding apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 is substantially the same as shown in FIGURE l and includes a traverse arm 60 having a horizontal traverse supporting portion 62 in which fa traverse actuator 64 is journaled for rotation, the actuator 64' having a multiple return groove or cam 66. The collet 36', on which a package of roving is collected, is rotated by a motor 38.

The traverse actuator 64' is rotated by a belt and sprocket mechanism from a shaft `S2 which is driven through speed reducing mechanism 84' by an electrically energizable motor S6. The horizontal section 62' of the arm 60 is equipped with ways 72 in which a traverse block 120 is slidably mounted for reciproca'ble movement along the ways 72', the ways being parallel to the -axis of the collet 36'. The traverse block or member 120 is equipped with -a cam follower 74 tting in the groove or cam 66', the follower being pivoted on the traverse block 120 to accommodate pivotal movement of the follower at the regions of reversal of the multiple return groove 66' adjacent the ends of the traverse actuating member 64.

The traverse block 120' is equipped with a guide means for the strands of the roving, the guide means including a comb-like member of Micarta or other suitable material which is supported upon the block 120. The strands of the roving are accommodated in the recesses provided by the projections on the comb guide 122.

A removable bar 124 carried by the traverse block 120 serves to prevent dislodgment of the strands from the recesses of the comb. The strands 110 of the roving are wound onto the package 126 as guided by the comb 122 and a combined package sensor bar and guide 128 whereby the strands ofthe roving are wound in side-byside relation in the package.

The combined roving guide and sensor bar 128 is supported by the traverse block 120. The sensor bar 128 is disposed adjacent the periphery of the package being formed and is slidably supported by the traverse block in the same manner as the traverse guide 76 is supported by the traverse block 68, shown in FIGURE 3. The traverse bar 128 is equipped with a T-shaped slot (not shown) which maintains the strands 0f the roving in side-by-side relation as the roving is wound onto the package.

The bar 128 is adapted to be moved radially of the package by the enlarging package to close 'a microswitch (not shown) energizing the circuit of the motor 96 which, through the reduction gearing 98', eifects slight rotational movement ot the arm 60 so as to move the traverse block 120, comb 122 and sensor member 128 a slight distance away from the package to accommodate the enlarging package. The duration of operation of the motor 96 with each closing of its circuit by the microswitch is timed by a time delay relay to reposition the arm 60 with the sensor bar 128 not more than about 1/32 of an inch `away from the periphery of the package of roving at any time during formation of the package.

Thus the combined sensor bar and roving guide 128 is engaged intermittently by the enlarging package of roving and, with each engagement of the sensor bar with the package :and energization of the motor 96', the guide for the roving provided =by the sensor bar 128 is maintained at all times close to or in engagement with the periphery of the package throughout package formation. The hon'- zontal section 62 is provided with a projection 132 adjacent each region of the reversal of reciprocation of the traverse block 120 and the guide comb 122.

The projections 132 support pins 134 adapted to be engaged by the outermost strand of the group of strands of the roving in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 to compact several of the strands of the roving lengthwise of the package 126 as shown in FIGURE 5 at the ends of the package. Through this method of compacting the roving at the ends of the package, a tapering of the end regions of the package is prevented and the package is formed of cylindrical shape having square ends 136, viz. the ends lying in substantially parallel planes normal to the longitudinal axis of the package. The cylindric-allyshaped package with compacted roving at the end regions eliminates sloughing of the roving from the ends of the package.

The motor 38', driving the collet 36', is progressively reduced in speed as the package enlarges by conventional programming means (not shown) whereby the filaments of the roving are attenuated at a substantially constant linear speed providing iilaments of uniform size.

The drive motor 86 for the traverse actuator 64' is likewise controlled by the programmer whereby the speed of the traverse 120 and the guide 128 are modulated or progressively reduced to maintain constant the deposition pattern of the roving throughout the package.

It should be noted that the package is formed with square ends without the use of support means. The shape of a completed cylindrically-shaped package with square ends is illustrated in FIGURE 7. The package of the shape illustrated in FIGURE 7 is produced by either single strand roving or multiple strand roving. Comparatively large packages may be produced in the manner described containing upwards of ninety pounds of roving.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

l. A Wound package of untwisted strand of bers of glass, the strand being in successive layers of equal length, the convolutions in each layer being in side-by-side relation, the strand in the end regions of the layers being in compact orientation whereby the package is of cylindrical shape having square ends.

2. A wound package of strand product comprising several hundred bers of glass in untwisted relation, the strand product being in successive layers of equal length, the convolutions of strand product in each of the layers being in side-by-Side relation, the tbers of the strand product in the end regions of the layers being in compacted relation whereby the package is of cylindrical shape with its ends in parallel planes.

3. A wound package of roving comprising an untwisted strand of glass bers, the strand being in successive layers of equal length, the convolutions of the strand in each layer being in noncrossing relation and the strand in the end regions of the layers compressed whereby the package is of cylindrical shape having square ends.

4. A wound package of bulk strand product comprising several hundred bers of glass in an untwisted state, the bulk strand being wound in successive layers of equal length, the convolutions of strand in each layer being in side-by-side relation the package being of cylindrical shape having square ends.

5. A wound package of roving comprising a plurality of strands, each strand comprising a plurality of glass ibers, the roving being in successive layers of equal length with the strands of the roving in each layer being in sideby-side relation throughout the package.

6. A Wound package of roving comprising a plurality of strands, each strand comprising a plurality of laments of glass in untwisted relation, the roving being in successive layers of equal length with the strands of the roving in the layers being in side-by-side relation throughout the package.

7. A Wound package comprising a group of untwisted strands, each strand comprising a plurality of filaments of glass, the strands of the group being in successive layers of equal length with the strands in side-by-sde relation in the package, strands of the group at the package ends being in compacted condition and the package being cylindrical with its ends in parallel planes.

8. A wound package of roving comprising a plurality of untwisted strands, each strand comprising a plurality of filaments of glass, the roving being in successive layers of equal length with the strands in each of the layers of the roving in side-by-side relation in the package, strands of the roving at the package ends being compacted lengthwise of the package whereby the package is of cylindrical shape and its ends in parallel planes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 480,158 8/ 1892 Wardwell 242-26 954,344 4/1910 Rhoades 242-178 1,277,933 9/1918 Holt et. al. 242-18 1,841,680 1/ 1932 Schaum 242-43 2,345,538 3/ 1944 Lewis 242-42 2,345,544 3/1944 Worthington 242--42 2,372,400 3/ 1945 Smith 242-178 X 2,639,872 5/ 1953 Hitt et al. 242-26 3,254,978 6/1966 Hayes 242-42 X 3,273,812 9/1966 Lacasse 242-42 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

